Bhajan Lal, sons skip Cong function
Chandigarh, October 18
That the HPCC chief, Mr Bhajan Lal, and its working president, Mr Ram Prakash, would follow two different paths of action became apparent today when Mr Bhajan Lal and his both sons, Mr Chander Mohan, Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana, and Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi, Lok Sabha member from Bhiwani, kept away from a function held here to mark Mr Ram Prakash’s appointment as the working president of the HPCC. Mr Dharampal Malik and Mr Ramji Lal, both MLAs, who are staunch loyalists of the HPCC chief, were also conspicuous by their absence.

Mr Ram Prakash (centre), flanked by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda (right) and outgoing Working President of the HPCC Randeep Singh Surjewala (left) at a function to mark Mr Ram Prakash’s appointment as HPCC Working President at Haryana Congress Bhavan in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
— Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

INLD dares Hooda to institute probe
Hisar, October 18
In its electoral campaign during the last Assembly poll in Haryana, the state Congress leadership, including present Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had stated that the corrupt practices of the Chautala regime would be probed into after the party assumed power in the state.

BJP executive committee meeting slams Hooda govt
Ambala, October 18
The Bhupinder Singh Hooda Government today came in for criticism at the two-day Bharatiya Janata Party state executive committee meeting.
BJP general secretary Kanwar Pal, briefing mediapersons, said a political resolution had been passed at the meeting.

Report sought over caste discrimination
Fatehabad, October 18
The National Human Rights Commission has sought a report from the Superintendent of Police, Fatehabad, on the alleged discriminatory attitude of local Zila Parishad Chairman Baljit Singh Balli towards Zila Parishad vice-chairperson Mandeep Kaur Gill, a Dalit woman.

high court
Haryana Judge challenges rent Act
Chandigarh, October 18
A serving Additional District and Sessions Judge of Haryana has challenged the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973, in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In his petition, Mr R.S. Virk, who is presently posted as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Faridabad, has prayed for quashing the Act on the ground that it has lost its relevance and is being misused.

Effluents pollute groundwater
(Bahadurgarh) Jhajjar, October 18
Chemical effluents from a number of dyeing units situated in the Modern Industrial Estate of this township have been polluting groundwater. As a result, agricultural land near the industrial area bears ill effects of contaminated groundwater as farmers use this water for irrigation purpose to grow vegetables.

55 elderly parade before DC to get pension restored
Jagadhri, October 18
Accompanied by village sarpanch, 55 persons of Aharwala village of Bilaspur block, who have been refused to be counted as senior citizens by the state government, today paraded themselves before the Deputy Commissioner to “show” that they all were old and belonged to the 60-yr-plus bracket.

State to have complete voter lists
Chandigarh, October 18
Haryana is going to be the first state in northern India and second in the whole of India to have complete voter lists with photographs of the voters.
While disclosing this here today, the Haryana Election Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, said the voter lists with photographs of the electorates were being prepared on a war footing in all Vidhan Sabha constituencies.

Haryana gets tough on
dress code
Chandigarh, October 18
The Haryana Transport Department will take strict action against officers and employees who do not wear their uniform during duty hours.
While stating this here today, an official spokesman said the department had directed all officers, inspectors, sub-inspectors, drivers, conductors, workshop employees and Grade IV employees to wear uniforms.

Villagers allege police inaction in murder case
Panipat, October 18
Alleging police inaction in a murder case, more than 100 villagers from a Jind village threatened to block the GT Road if the case was not inquired into swiftly. Villagers said certain local officials were pressurising them to withdraw the case. They also met Mr Raghbir Singh, district police chief, in this regard.

Sales Tax inspector,
employee attacked
Sonepat, October 18
Inspector of the Sales Tax Department Naresh Ahlawat and another employee Pankaj were injured when they were attacked by a group of truck drivers and cleaners at a checkpoint near Garh Meerakhpur village, around 20 km from here, last night.

Owner razes 7 shops to oust tenants
Hisar, October 18
In order to get his shops vacated from tenants, a landowner of Petwad village allegedly demolished seven shops owned by him with the help of a JCB machine at Hansi township near here, late last night.

Farmer shot
Jhajjar, October 18
A farmer was reportedly shot by some unidentified assailants near Dhakla village here today. Farmer, Bijender was returning home after selling mustard in a Delhi mandi.

17 child prisoners hurt in group clash
Sonepat, October 18
At least 17 child prisoners were injured in a group clash at the Bal Sudhar Graha here last night.
According to police sources, the injured prisoners were rushed to the local Civil Hospital and were discharged after first-aid.

Driver killed in mishap
Kaithal, October 18
Mr Heera Nand Gosain, a driver of Haryana Fire Services posted here was killed in a mishap here today . He was going on a cycle and was knocked down by a tractor trailor near bus stand this morning. He died on the spot.

SP on bicycle nabs satta
players
Ambala, October 18
Superintendent of Police, Ambala, Rajbir Deswal, patrolling incognito on a bicycle, nabbed satta players in the Baldev Nagar area last
night. Mr Rajbir Deswal was patrolling on his bicycle when he was informed that some people were playing
`satta’ in Baldev Nagar.

Students take part in AIDS awareness rally
Ambala, October 18
As part of the ongoing AIDS awareness campaign, today marked the culmination of four-day long mass mobilisation campaign at Sohan Lal DAV College of Education, Ambala City.

Chandigarh, October 18
That the HPCC chief, Mr Bhajan Lal, and its working president, Mr Ram Prakash, would follow two different paths of action became apparent today when Mr Bhajan Lal and his both sons, Mr Chander Mohan, Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana, and Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi, Lok Sabha member from Bhiwani, kept away from a function held here to mark Mr Ram Prakash’s appointment as the working president of the HPCC. Mr Dharampal Malik and Mr Ramji Lal, both MLAs, who are staunch loyalists of the HPCC chief, were also conspicuous by their absence.

It was, however, obvious that the number of legislators supporting Mr Bhajan Lal is dwindling. Mr Mangeram Gupta, Ms Sumita Singh and other MLAs, who are associated with Mr Bhajan Lal, turned up at the function.

The Finance Minister, Mr Birender Singh, who is not among the camp followers of Mr Bhajan Lal, also kept away.

Later, at a press conference, addressed jointly by the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, and Mr Ram Prakash, the latter tried to play down the absence of Mr Bhajan Lal and his sons and said more than individuals, it was the issues that interested him.

Both Mr Hooda and Mr Ram Prakash, however, made oblique attacks against the HPCC chief when they addressed the party workers who had assembled on the ground in front of the HPCC office. The duo avoided taking the HPCC chief’s name, yet the message was clear.

While Mr Hooda’s appeal for differentiating between “genuine and fake Congressmen” was believed to be directed at Mr Bhajan Lal, Mr Ram Prakash, who delivered a sparkling speech, several times mentioned the undesirability of having “corrupt persons” in the fold of the Congress.

Both leaders also unfolded plans about the party and the state government working in tandem for making the state prosperous. While Mr Ram Prakash talked about making the party a bridge between people and the government, Mr Hooda assured that he would keep visiting Mr Ram Prakash in the HPCC office here to take feedback and act on them.

Mr Hooda also appealed to the workers to act as watchdogs against corruption and bring instances of malpractices by officials to the notice of the government.

The function, conducted by the outgoing HPCC working president and Transport Minister of Haryana, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, started with a speech by the newly elected MP from Rohtak, Mr Deepender Hooda. Mr Arvind Sharma, Mr Naveen Jindal and Mr Atma Singh Gill, all Lok Sabha members, also gave brief speeches.

Mr Ram Prakash avoided talking about politics at the press conference. His immediate agenda, he revealed, was addressing some of the burning social issues and constituting two committees to prevent unwanted matters slipping into the school syllabus.

There was a good crowd at the venue and the usual melee for food and having a glance at the leader. Nobody seemed to be bothered about the question of how an organisation would fare if its president was at loggerheads with the working president.

Hisar, October 18
In its electoral campaign during the last Assembly poll in Haryana, the state Congress leadership, including present Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, had stated that the corrupt practices of the Chautala regime would be probed into after the party assumed power in the state.

The Congress leaders had even submitted a chargesheet against the then Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government led by Mr Om Prakash Chautala to the Haryana Governor.The chargesheet contained several serious allegations, including political patronage to criminals, rampant corruption, collection of “goonda tax” at illegal mining checkpoints, large-scale irregularities in recruitment of government employees and so on.

However, nearly eight months have elapsed since the formation of the Congress government in the state, yet no action in this direction has been taken by the Hooda regime.

Whatever be the reasons behind the delay, it has undoubtedly lifted the spirits of the INLD members as well as its followers and sympathisers. So much so that the party leaders have even started challenging the state government to institute inquiry against them.

The INLD general secretary and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Ajay Chautala, who was in the city last evening, openly dared Mr Hooda to order a CBI or any other high-level probe into the allegations against the INLD or any of its members.

Launching a counteroffensive against the state government, he said the Congress was afraid of instituting a probe as it would expose the hollowness of allegations against the INLD.

Mr Ajay Chautala asked the Chief Minister what was stopping him from instituting an inquiry into the allegations especially when there were Congress governments in Haryana and at the Centre. He challenged Mr Hooda to order a CBI or IB inquiry against his party or any of its members.

Lambasting the state government for its failure to get the SYL canal issue resolved, the INLD leader said the party would soon begin a statewide stir against the Congress regime’s inability to fulfil its electoral promises.

Fatehabad, October 18
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the Superintendent of Police, Fatehabad, on the alleged discriminatory attitude of local Zila Parishad Chairman Baljit Singh Balli towards Zila Parishad vice-chairperson Mandeep Kaur Gill, a Dalit woman.

The Tribune had highlighted the incident in its columns on July 15, 2005.

Taking cognizance of the news report, the NHRC has sought the report. The SP has asked city SHO Chandgi Ram to collect statements of all parties to find out the truth.

Ms Gill had levelled allegations of gender and caste discrimination on Mr Balli and had alleged that he had been humiliating her ever since she joined as vice-chairperson of the Zila Parishad.

Mr Balli had been accused of ridiculing her for her caste and gender. However, Mr Balli had refuted the allegations.

The SHO, according to sources, had asked Mr Balli to appear before him and give statement. However, Mr Balli has so far ignored the summons. When contacted, Mr Balli said he was not aware of any inquiry.

Chandigarh, October 18
A serving Additional District and Sessions Judge of Haryana has challenged the Haryana Urban (Control of Rent and Eviction) Act, 1973, in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In his petition, Mr R.S. Virk, who is presently posted as Additional District and Sessions Judge, Faridabad, has prayed for quashing the Act on the ground that it has lost its relevance and is being misused.

Stating that the Act defines a tenant as a person taking property on rent, the petitioner has stated that this definition is being misread by major companies and corporations, who take property on rent and then refuse to vacate the same.

He has also stated that the Act was first formulated in 1917 by the then Bombay State and since then it has seen many changes. With time having changed, the Act has also lost its relevance, he has added.

After hearing Mr Virk's counsel, the Division Bench comprising Mr Justice N.K. Sud and Mr Justice Virender Singh admitted the writ and ordered that it be heard by a Division Bench within six months.

Torture case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday deferred the hearing of the case concerning torture of a minor boy by the Panchkula police sometime back to November 8. The High Court had taken suo motu notice of reports regarding inhuman treatment meted out to the 14-year-old boy by cops and the Haryana Government had been directed to file its reply.

It may be mentioned that the boy, a resident of a slum colony in Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula, was picked up by the police on March 13 after two security men in the Mansa Devi temple accused him of being a thief. He was allegedly assaulted for hours and thereafter, he was hanged from a tree. He was also given electric shocks and the policemen also tried to sodomise him.

Today, the reply filed by the Superintendent of Police, Panchkula, Mr Balbir Singh, was submitted to the Bench of Chief Justice Mr Justice D.K. Jain and Mr Justice Hemant Gupta. In his reply, Mr Balbir has stated that a special team headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Manbir Singh was investigating the matter and six police personnel involved in the act had already been placed under suspension. Head constable Jagmal Singh has also been arrested.

The Haryana Government had yesterday suspended six cops, including the former In charge of CIA Staff, Mr Mukesh Malhotra, Jagmal Singh, presently posted at Jind, Sub Inspector Karan Singh, and Constables Suresh, Ramesh and Joginder. All these persons were posted in the CIA Staff when the young boy was illegally detained and tortured.

The SP has stated that the Supreme Court of India was also seized of the matter, following a PIL filed by an advocate. The case was listed for today before a SC Bench.

During hearing, the Bench headed by the Chief Justice remarked that the matter was of a very serious nature and the police was not expected to show such inhuman nature.

The Bench was informed that the video tape telecast by a private TV news channel, where the boy was shown being tortured, had been sent to the forensic laboratory for verification.

Since the matter is already pending in the SC, the Bench adjourned it.

(Bahadurgarh) Jhajjar, October 18
Chemical effluents from a number of dyeing units situated in the Modern Industrial Estate of this township have been polluting groundwater. As a result, agricultural land near the industrial area bears ill effects of contaminated groundwater as farmers use this water for irrigation purpose to grow vegetables.

Farmers though inadvertently, are also serving toxic vegetables, to the scores of households, which are harmful to health.

There are 20 dyeing and colour manufacturing units in the MIE part II. Adjacent to this site is agriculture land owned by farmers of Jatwara mohalla of this town who, mainly, have been growing vegetables on this land. These fields used to yield good produce earlier but yield has gradually come down up to 50 per cent in a couple of years.

Farmers lamented that acid mixed liquid being discharged by the industrial units had been polluting groundwater as well as the surface. Farmers are worried more over the fact that instead of discharging the effluents in the open, these industries were allegedly discharging those directly into ground which pollutes underground water streams more. When this correspondent visited the area, he found that units did not discharge pollutants in the open space, though the surface of the fields and even the roads around the units were seen coloured.

Ill-effects of the polluted irrigation directly affected yield of vegetables. The farmers said they mostly grow onions here, but due to chemical effect, quantity of produce had declined to almost half. Similarly, they added that onions and other vegetables like radish, spinach etc are short-lived and perished early due to chemical effects these carried with it. Health observers feel that such vegetables do more harm than good to consumers as it carried toxic contents.

The farmers told that they had informed the local MLA of their problem in the previous INLD government and also complained to the police but no action was taken as some influential industrialists owned these units who stalled an inquiry initiated by the police. Employees of these units held that the factories had installed treatment plants and discharge water into the sewer after proper treatment.

Jagadhri, October 18
Accompanied by village sarpanch, 55 persons of Aharwala village of Bilaspur block, who have been refused to be counted as senior citizens by the state government, today paraded themselves before the Deputy Commissioner to “show” that they all were old and belonged to the 60-yr-plus bracket.

They lamented that they had been getting old age pension till few months ago when, after a fresh survey, their entitlement was cancelled.

Deputy Commissioner Sukriti Likhi said the matter would be looked into and the issue of striking off their entitlement would only become clear after the inquiry.

Among those affected were two widows — Kartari Devi (85) and Swaran Kaur.

The senior citizens reached the mini secretariat here in a tractor-trailer. Some old men were brought on cots, said sources.

Village sarpanch Mangat Ram, who accompanied the senior citizens, said all these persons had been getting pension (Rs 300 per month) till recently, but their pensions had been stopped after the survey.

The then Chief Minister, Om Parkash Chautala, had started the old age pension scheme. However, it was alleged that the then government had enlisted several persons in the scheme who were not senior citizens to woo voters.

When the new government took over, a fresh survey was ordered. The survey was jointly conducted by the Social Welfare Department, the Health Department and the BDPO recently.

The sarpanch claimed that all these persons were above the age of 60 and hence deserved pension of Rs 300 each.

The sarpanch later submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner demanding immediate action.

Chandigarh, October 18
Haryana is going to be the first state in northern India and second in the whole of India to have complete voter lists with photographs of the voters.

While disclosing this here today, the Haryana Election Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, said the voter lists with photographs of the electorates were being prepared on a war footing in all Vidhan Sabha constituencies.

The first publication of such voter lists in all constituencies would be made on December 30, 2005, and these would be available for inspection to the public from December 30, 2005, to January 29, 2006.

Chandigarh, October 18
The Haryana Transport Department will take strict action against officers and employees who do not wear their uniform during duty hours.

While stating this here today, an official spokesman said the department had directed all officers, inspectors, sub-inspectors, drivers, conductors, workshop employees and Grade IV employees to wear uniforms.

He said if any officer or employee was found without uniform during duty hours, then he/she would be imposed a fine of Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 300 for the offence committed for the first, second and third time respectively. Subsequently, the department will initiate disciplinary action against such erring employees.

Panipat, October 18
Alleging police inaction in a murder case, more than 100 villagers from a Jind village threatened to block the GT Road if the case was not inquired into swiftly. Villagers said certain local officials were pressurising them to withdraw the case. They also met Mr Raghbir Singh, district police chief, in this regard.

Prithi Singh, resident of Murkhi village in Jind, said his 28-year-old daughter, Aneeta, was allegedly murdered by her husband and in laws on October 18 in Panipat. He alleged that his son-in-law was an alcoholic and killed her for more dowry.

He alleged that instead of investigating the case impartially, the police had started to pressurise them to withdraw the case. He also said even after four days of registering an FIR, the police had not even recorded their statements.

The villagers from the village in the Safidon block met the SP.

Mr Raghbir Singh confirmed that the villagers had complained against some officials. Following the demand of the villagers, the case had been handed over to the CIA branch and he had asked it to registers and investigate the case under Section 302, IPC.

Sonepat, October 18
Inspector of the Sales Tax Department Naresh Ahlawat and another employee Pankaj were injured when they were attacked by a group of truck drivers and cleaners at a checkpoint near Garh Meerakhpur village, around 20 km from here, last night.

According to police sources, the assailants also smashed doors and windows of the checkpoint office and damaged the record before fleeing. The police has registered a case against the assailants and launched a hunt to apprehend them.

The incident happened when over 10 trucks loaded with coal from UP were stopped for collection of sales tax. But the drivers declined to pay the tax. When the inspector insisted on the payment of the tax, the drivers and cleaners got down from their trucks and started abusing the two. They then beat them up and forced their way into the office and smashed doors and windows.

The police arrived on the spot immediately but the assailants drove away. It is alleged that the trucks belonged to Sonepat and Rohtak Trucks Operators Union.

Hisar, October 18
In order to get his shops vacated from tenants, a landowner of Petwad village allegedly demolished seven shops owned by him with the help of a JCB machine at Hansi township near here, late last night.

One of the tenants, Mr Dayanand, reported the matter to the police. In his complaint, he said for the past few days the owner was pressurising them to vacate the shops.

The Hansi DSP, Mr Maharaj Singh, visited the scene to assess the damage. A criminal case has been registered. However, no arrests has been made till the time of filing this report.

This morning, the affected tenants got the demolished shops reconstructed.

Meanwhile, several local leaders, political and social organisations have condemned the incident.

Jhajjar, October 18
A farmer was reportedly shot by some unidentified assailants near Dhakla village here today. Farmer, Bijender was returning home after selling mustard in a Delhi mandi.

According to information, he was found dead with bullet injuries on his body an approach road between Dhakla and Kasni villages. The police has registered a case. Villagers suspect the hand of wanted criminal, Sombir, who is resident of the same village. The deceased had also received threats from him a few days ago as both nursed ill-will against each other.

Kaithal, October 18
Mr Heera Nand Gosain, a driver of Haryana Fire Services posted here was killed in a mishap here today . He was going on a cycle and was knocked down by a tractor trailor near bus stand this morning. He died on the spot.

Tractor-trailor driver of a nearby dera was returning home after unloading paddy in local Anaj Mandi. He was allegedly driving rashly and fled the scene with the Tractor. He was chased and nabbed by a PCR van. The police has arrested the driver and registered a case against him.

In another accident Mr Ved parkash Gupta a local trader here and his son and nephew were injured and admitted to hospital when they were allegedly attacked with sticks and iron roads by some persons including a driver and a cleaner of a truck this morning.

It is learnt that they had objected to the parking of the truck in front of the shop of their neighbour.

Ambala, October 18
Superintendent of Police, Ambala, Rajbir Deswal, patrolling incognito on a bicycle, nabbed satta players in the Baldev Nagar area last
night.

Mr Rajbir Deswal was patrolling on his bicycle when he was informed that some people were playing `satta’ in Baldev Nagar. Mr Deswal reached the street where satta was being played. He apprehended three satta players. Thereafter, he informed the local police officials who later caught the satta
organiser.

Mr Deswal said that he had been carrying out patrolling on his bicycle regularly. “As a matter of fact, for the last two decades, I have been doing this so that I can have a better perception. It is also helps in building a better community police relation,” he
said.

He observed that if a policeman travels by the official vehicle, the anti-social elements come to know about. “Travelling by bicycle without disclosing the identity, enables me to know the actual ground reality,” he said.

Ambala, October 18
As part of the ongoing AIDS awareness campaign, today marked the culmination of four-day long mass mobilisation campaign at Sohan Lal DAV College of Education, Ambala City.

A symposium on AIDS was conducted in the college. Dr
D.P. Asija, Principal of the college, initiated the proceedings. In the symposium Dr Sushma Gupta, Dr Vivek Kohli and other faculty members informed about the myths and wrong perceptions about AIDS/HIV. The general perception is that HIV affects only commercial sex workers on the contrary this disease can affect any one of us they told the students.

Students
of M.D.S.D. Girls, College also took out an awareness rally today which
was flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr J.P. Kaushik. The
principal of the college, was also present on the occasion. The
procession passed through the main bazaar of Ambala City.